CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Without preparation, the speaker had to fly by the seat of his pants.”, what is the meaning of “Fly by the seat of one's pants”?
A. almost remembered but not quite able to be said
B. to control one's emotions or understand a situation properly
C. to act without a plan, relying on instinct and experience
D. to flatter someone in order to gain a favor
Correct Answer: C
“Fly by the seat of one's pants” means to act without a plan, relying on instinct and experience. Example: Without preparation, the speaker had to fly by the seat of his pants. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fight fire with fire”?
A. a situation with either too much or too little and nothing in between
B. to compete strongly and make success difficult for an opponent
C. to act aggressively and uncompromisingly to get what one wants
D. to use the same methods as an opponent in order to defeat them
Correct Answer: D
“Fight fire with fire” means to use the same methods as an opponent in order to defeat them. Example: The company fought fire with fire by launching its own discount campaign. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “extremely annoyed or tired of something”?
A. Fed up to the back teeth
B. Take stock
C. Wrap things up
D. In limbo
Correct Answer: A
“Fed up to the back teeth” means extremely annoyed or tired of something. Example: Residents were fed up to the back teeth with repeated power cuts. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fall through the cracks”?
A. to make noticeable physical effort or become anxious
B. to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system
C. to be very noticeable because of being different
D. to begin to like someone or something quickly
Correct Answer: B
“Fall through the cracks” means to be unintentionally neglected or missed by a system. Example: Some deserving applicants fell through the cracks. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Fall head over heels”?
A. to guide, protect, or mentor someone
B. in a difficult situation
C. to fall deeply in love
D. honestly and with sincere intentions
Correct Answer: C
“Fall head over heels” means to fall deeply in love. Example: He fell head over heels for her. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “The department must face up to its staffing shortage.”, what is the meaning of “Face up to”?
A. said to express hope that good luck will continue
B. to assess a situation carefully before deciding what to do
C. to see signs that a difficult period is nearing its end
D. to accept and deal with a difficult fact or problem
Correct Answer: D
“Face up to” means to accept and deal with a difficult fact or problem. Example: The department must face up to its staffing shortage. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Eye-opener”?
A. an experience that reveals surprising facts or changes understanding
B. to do something in a new and different way
C. an additional skill or resource that may be useful
D. to punish someone as severely as the rules allow
Correct Answer: A
“Eye-opener” means an experience that reveals surprising facts or changes understanding. Example: The field survey was a real eye-opener for the students. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “every possible method, including clever or questionable ones”?
A. Give the green light
B. Every trick in the book
C. At a premium
D. So far, so good
Correct Answer: B
“Every trick in the book” means every possible method, including clever or questionable ones. Example: The lawyer used every trick in the book to delay the hearing. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Elephant in the room”?
A. with understanding gained after an event has happened
B. to make noticeable physical effort or become anxious
C. an obvious major problem that people avoid discussing
D. used to emphasize that something is certainly true
Correct Answer: C
“Elephant in the room” means an obvious major problem that people avoid discussing. Example: The budget deficit was the elephant in the room. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “smiling very broadly”?
A. As good as gold
B. Cook someone's goose
C. So far, so good
D. Grin from ear to ear
Correct Answer: D
“Grin from ear to ear” means smiling very broadly. Example: She was grinning from ear to ear after receiving the award. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Draw a line in the sand”?
A. to set a firm limit that one will not allow others to cross
B. the most important matters should be dealt with before others
C. in a very quiet voice so others can barely hear
D. to leave a difficult situation suddenly instead of dealing with it
Correct Answer: A
“Draw a line in the sand” means to set a firm limit that one will not allow others to cross. Example: The regulator drew a line in the sand over safety standards. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Down in the mouth”?
A. without preparation or planning
B. sad or discouraged
C. to feel extremely happy
D. irrelevant to the main issue
Correct Answer: B
“Down in the mouth” means sad or discouraged. Example: He looked down in the mouth after the interview. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “I did a double take when I saw the final score.”, what is the meaning of “Do a double take”?
A. a skill or habit that becomes automatic through practice
B. to be grateful for the good things one has
C. to look again in surprise because something is unexpected
D. to admire or respect someone for an achievement
Correct Answer: C
“Do a double take” means to look again in surprise because something is unexpected. Example: I did a double take when I saw the final score. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Dig one's heels in”?
A. in very good health and physical condition
B. final success after being doubted or mocked
C. forced to choose between two difficult options
D. to refuse stubbornly to change one's position
Correct Answer: D
“Dig one's heels in” means to refuse stubbornly to change one's position. Example: The committee dug its heels in and rejected every compromise. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “small details can cause serious problems in an otherwise good plan”?
A. Devil is in the details
B. From scratch
C. Put someone on the spot
D. From the ground up
Correct Answer: A
“Devil is in the details” means small details can cause serious problems in an otherwise good plan. Example: The proposal sounds simple, but the devil is in the details. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Daylight robbery”?
A. to accept an unpleasant situation without complaining
B. an outrageously high price or obvious unfairness
C. to have both positive and negative effects
D. to avoid trouble and behave properly
Correct Answer: B
“Daylight robbery” means an outrageously high price or obvious unfairness. Example: Charging that much for a short ride is daylight robbery. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Cut someone down to size”?
A. small details can cause serious problems in an otherwise good plan
B. a son often resembles his father in behavior or character
C. to make an arrogant person realize they are not as important as they think
D. to take a firm position and refuse to allow something
Correct Answer: C
“Cut someone down to size” means to make an arrogant person realize they are not as important as they think. Example: The defeat cut the overconfident player down to size. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
In the sentence “Strict rules can cut both ways: they improve discipline but reduce flexibility.”, what is the meaning of “Cut both ways”?
A. affecting everyone or everything in a group
B. an expression of annoyance, surprise, or impatience
C. informed and included in communication or decisions
D. to have both positive and negative effects
Correct Answer: D
“Cut both ways” means to have both positive and negative effects. Example: Strict rules can cut both ways: they improve discipline but reduce flexibility. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
What is the meaning of the idiom/phrase “Cut and run”?
A. to leave a difficult situation suddenly instead of dealing with it
B. to reveal a great deal without words or detailed explanation
C. said or revealed in order to feel relief from worry or guilt
D. small details can cause serious problems in an otherwise good plan
Correct Answer: A
“Cut and run” means to leave a difficult situation suddenly instead of dealing with it. Example: A responsible leader does not cut and run when problems arise. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Idioms
Which idiom/phrase means “to use authority to make people work harder or faster”?
A. Get a word in edgeways
B. Crack the whip
C. Get a second wind
D. Open book
Correct Answer: B
“Crack the whip” means to use authority to make people work harder or faster. Example: The supervisor cracked the whip as the deadline approached. Exam tip: Identify the figurative sense of the whole expression instead of translating each word literally.